Hasn’t this been a great week on the SBV porch. I love reading about Lisa’s new book. I’ve been in a deadline and preparing to teach at a writer’s retreat and writer’s conference back-to-back, so reading is not a luxury right now.
But I paused to spend some time with my belle Lisa and Firefly Island, and please, y’all, she makes me want to hang up my writing shoes and use my iMac for movies and video games.
Dang, the girl can write. I know Beth Webb said it more eloquently, but I’m fighting a descending cold and going to just say it like it is.
But don’t take my word for it. Read some of Firefly Island for yourself.
The heroine Mallory is mulling over a CNN interview. About what, we don’t know yet, but she says this:
“For a CNN, you’ll do thing you wouldn’t do for anyone else. You’ll attempt to flatten you life like a map, smooth your hands over it, letting nothing hide in the wrinkles.”
Beautiful. Brilliant. I’m there in the moment. LOVE the imagery of flattening out her life like a map. Can’t you just see that? Emotionally as well as physically.
After a tense conversation with her mother:
“My indignation fumed in a dozen different directions, sending off molten spears like sparklers… no, a sunspot. More like a sunspot.”
I can just see her anger. I can feel it. This is what an author is supposed to do. Bring us into the story.
Near the end. Lisa is still going strong:
“It sounds so strange when you say it all out loud — speak it into the air and let it hover there, the entire journey from the white space at one end of the map, where a girl rushed through the Capitol Building, not even noticing the sights and sounds of spring, to here. Such an unlikely journey, a life-changing road trip of epic proportions.”
Love how Lisa ties up the map theme and brings us back around the beginning at the end of the book.
I sniff an award or two in the air. Blessings on you and this story, Lisa!!
Happy Valentines Day!
***
Rachel Hauck writes books too. www.rachelhauck.com
**WIN A COPY OF FIREFLY ISLAND AND BE INDUCTED INTO THE
PRECIOUS PEARL CLUB, TOO! (to learn more about Precious Pearl Clu
b, click here)**
To celebrate the release of Firefly Island, Lisa’s publisher is giving away 5 copies of Firefly Island (one each day) and Lisa is inducting a new Precious Pearl Club member each day!(adorable groundhog not included)**
To ENTER: answer the question of the day: What about you? Have books brought you together with friends in special ways? Leave a comment and share your Sisterhood Of the Book with us!
To learn more about Alice, Cindy, and Paula’s Sisterhood Of the Book, in their own words, check out there special feature below today’s post!
Blue Moon Bay one of BOOKLIST’S 10 Must Reads Of 2012!
Firefly Island hits shelves in February, 2013!
Click for sneak peek at Blue Moon Bay
Click for sneak peek at Firefly Island
17 comments
Lisa Wingate says:
February 14, 2013 at 8:08 am (UTC -5 )
Thank you, Rachel! One of the greatest things about writing is the human connections we make, and writer-connections are the ones I treasure most of all. Sharing space with you and having your talented self for a friend is an incredible blessing.
“Rachel Hauck writes books too.” You left out a modifier in that sentence. Yes’m! Rachel Hauck writes incredible books!
Beth Webb Hart says:
February 14, 2013 at 8:45 am (UTC -5 )
Well put, Rachel. I love the quotes you picked from Lisa’s book. So many gems worth quoting throughout the story.
I can’t wait to read your next masterpiece, and I hope all is going well as you push toward your deadline. Be so encouraged! You are doing just what He has called you to do.
Much Love,
BW
Carolyn Jefferson says:
February 14, 2013 at 9:46 am (UTC -5 )
Carolyn Jefferson… please enter me!
Rachel Hauck says:
February 14, 2013 at 10:16 am (UTC -5 )
Lisa, last night a friend email, “I’m reading The Wedding Dress. Emily is a dip. Don’t like her.” LOL. I was like, “What?! I love her.” Sigh… can’t win them all.
BW, book is done! But now it’s all the prep for the retreat and the conference. Cold not withstanding….
Carolyn, thanks for stopping by!
Love to all!
Rachel
Lisa Wingate says:
February 14, 2013 at 5:00 pm (UTC -5 )
LOL! Rach, the book everyone likes hasn’t been written yet. Personally, I loved Emily! glad you made your deadline ;o)
Virginia Rush says:
February 14, 2013 at 10:31 am (UTC -5 )
Rachel no you can’t win them all, but it makes me wonder what that reader DOES like? because I loved the wedding Dress and impatiently waiting for the next book…did you catch the hint in that…. and One day I’m going to take a pic of the tv of that girl in the commercial that looks like you!!!!! IS IT? lol
AND YES an award for sure for Firefly Island….I gobbled it up and was so sad when it ended…..when a book leaves you wanting more fast…IT’S A GREAT BOOK!!!
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO MY GIRLS ON THE PORCH!!!! would appreciate a lil prayer at 3 this afternoon…..and Rachel you get well for those meeting!!! Zicam…LOL Just call me Dr. V…..
Jorie says:
February 14, 2013 at 11:43 am (UTC -5 )
I must say, I was looking forward to the next question!
Laughs. However, I don’t want to repeat my answer from yesterday, as its jettisoned into its own thread of conversation, which is wonderful to see! Therefore, I’ll answer it in another way, which is just as special to me, actually! When a new library opened four years ago come May, I was especially elated with the prospect of digging back into reading, with the hope of finding heaps upon heaps of new authors! It had been quite a long while since I had a regular library to visit, and this one, held such promise as it was a bit on the outskirts of towne, in a little hamlet surrounded by century old oaks, whose calming spirits were always a welcome during Hertiage Days. Its the type of place that wraps you up in serenity as soon as your car exits the main drag?
Finding my new niches in literary wanderings took a short spell, as I had had a sabatical from reading,.. the more I read about books + upcoming authors, the more I requested in my hold ques. Until, nearly a year had passed when I started to notice that my librarian was more keenly interested in my declarations about this or that, than she had been prior to then! She was even taking notes! This developed into a beautiful friendship, where we share our love of books, giving each other encouragement if we come across one that disappointed us, and always lamenting, at least there is one right behind it that could be the one that we’ve hoped would surprise us!
I hope that everyone makes a connection with their librarians as I have, because you never know! The times you bring back the books, gushing over a book you just read, might inspire them to pick up the same book or recommend it to a friend of theirs, which extends the joy of reading!
Julie Cantrell says:
February 14, 2013 at 12:20 pm (UTC -5 )
Another lovely chat on the porch! Loving it. And LOVE the quotes you pulled from Lisa’s book, Rachel. I’m out of my sick bed and back in the classrom today so can’t hang out long, but wanted to swing by and offer a smile and a wave. Happy Day!
Lynn Landcaster says:
February 14, 2013 at 5:01 pm (UTC -5 )
I hope i’m in the right place to enter. My sisterhood of the book is the girls on my street. We all share our books back and forth. By the time we’re done, they’re ragged and tattered and there’s no telling where they will end up.
Shellie says:
February 14, 2013 at 6:31 pm (UTC -5 )
“Please, y’all, she makes me want to hang up my writing shoes and use my iMac for movies and video games.” Oh, hear, hear, Rachel! That’s exactly how I felt. You, however, are silly for thinking that.
GREAT story, Lisa. Can’t wait to have my turn tomorrow!
Hugs,
Shellie
Suz Carter says:
February 14, 2013 at 10:12 pm (UTC -5 )
The book sounds great. I loved the quotes. Word pictures amaze me. Please enter me in the contest!
lisa Wingate says:
February 14, 2013 at 11:41 pm (UTC -5 )
Thank you for showing up on the porch, everyone! Your kind words mean so much!
Janet R says:
February 15, 2013 at 8:55 am (UTC -5 )
I love books, especially Christian fiction! And I long to share books with lady friends in my home church! Spending about half the year in Argentina (volunteer mission assignment with my husband), I do get to read lots of books on my Kindle, but it’s not condusive to spending time with friends, and our time back in the States is so busy… maybe some day there will be that opportunity!
Kd Brown says:
February 15, 2013 at 10:35 am (UTC -5 )
Firefly Island sounds like a book I’d like to read and then share. If my library doesn’t have it, then I’ll ask them to purchase it so even more people in my area can enjoy Lisa’s latest! What a concept!
Rachel Hauck says:
February 15, 2013 at 1:57 pm (UTC -5 )
Ah, sorry Jorie I forgot to post the question of the day! Duh!
Thanks Virginia for your kind words.
Julie, glad you’re feeling better!
Thanks to all for coming by!
Jorie says:
February 15, 2013 at 2:47 pm (UTC -5 )
Ms. Hauck, that’s okay!
I noticed that the question repeats for today’s post too, so I simply posted a ‘thank you’ to all of the Belles! I wasn’t sure how else to answer the same question, and decided to yield to give someone else a chance!? I’m simply enjoying dropping by in the afternoons, seeing what is new and the fact that I found books by each Belle at my library made me smile all the more today! 
Giving a nod out to my librarian, whose also a book minded friend, was my way of answering the question! I
Brandi F says:
February 22, 2013 at 11:19 pm (UTC -5 )
I know I’m late to the conversation…but I wanted to chime in anyway!
I agree that Lisa has a fabulous writing style. But let me just say my dear Rachel…you ain’t so bad yourself! ‘The Wedding Dress’ is making a lot of noise. I personally enjoyed it very much.